Results 4,701-4,720 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: Our guests might clarify whether Fáilte Ireland is "policing" - in inverted commas - this requirement to serve a substantial meal and what is regarded as a substantial meal. I appreciate there is not much time and every one of Fáilte Ireland's inspectors-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: The Deputy may be alone in wanting to know the answer to that question.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: What about policing? Are the agencies coming together to determine what a substantial meal is or to inspect premises?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: As Deputy Boyd Barrett asked, would caviar on toast qualify, as one imagines a Russian embassy reception might have been like in the tsarist times? Would that be substantial?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: It would have to be truly imperial. It is a bit farcical. I know we specialise in farce, theatre and so on, but I would not like to have my livelihood determined by such farce.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: It is a comedy perhaps.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: How do musicians, if they are spaced properly and not sitting on top of one another, make the environment less safe?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: Would chamber musicians be safer than traditional musicians because their music might be more solemn?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: Where would Mr. Kelly draw the line with farce?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: I will ask a different question. Mr. Kelly expects the domestic tourism season to extend into September. There are a number of tourism sites right across the entire mid-west, not just Clare, that will not open at all this year. They include Dunguaire Castle, Craggaunowen and Knappogue Castle. Bunratty Castle and King John’s Castle in Limerick are going to close at the end of...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: Will that help also be available to Shannon Heritage to open some of the sites that are not opening, such as Craggaunowen, Dunguaire and Knappogue, and extend the season for sites that say they are going to close at the end of August?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: Are groups such as Shannon Heritage being included?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: I will allow just two more questions, one from Deputy Michael Collins and another from Deputy Boyd Barrett, because we are over time.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: It is a good proposal. Ultimately, the decision will fall to Government and none of the witnesses here will be able to declare a day as a bank holiday. I thank them for attending and answering all of our questions, and for staying a bit longer than anticipated. We will now suspend until 12 noon.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: This session will focus on education and the return to school, including school transport. Witnesses are joining us from committee room 1. I welcome from the National Parents Council Post Primary, NPCPP, Ms Mai Fanning, president, and Mr. Paul Rolston, communications director, and from the National Parents Council Primary, NPCP, Ms Áine Lynch, CEO, and Ms Catherine Cross, services...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank Ms Fanning. I ask Ms Lynch to give her opening statement, but I ask her to limit it to five minutes.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: Thank you, Ms Lynch. I will now take questions from Members, starting with Deputy McAuliffe

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: I call Deputy Funchion who will have ten minutes.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank the witnesses for their answers to date. It is very difficult when we are in two different rooms in that we have a clock in the Chamber but the witnesses also have a clock in the committee room. We are asking people to try to stay within the ten minutes or five minutes allocated. Otherwise, some people will not be able to get in at the end, and everybody here should have an equal...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank the Deputy for that suggestion. Obviously we would like to bring in student representatives for a future meeting, as we would like to bring in representatives of special needs assistants, SNAs. I thank the Deputy. I would just like to make a point before we go to the next speaker, Deputy Gannon, about how people are selected. We have a secretariat which is guided by a working...